Web-guiding device.



B. R. VAN I'ALKENBURGI WEB GUIDING DEVICE. APPLICATION FI-LED FEB.28.1916.

1,259,321. Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

LII

. flag. 7L

. INVENTOR. 52/72 1? Van Vail away BY 4 7 ATTORNEYS.

B. R. VAN VALKENBURG.

WEB GUlDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28. 1916.

' 1,259,321. Patented Mar.12,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

7 [747 I J is? INVENTOR.

7 ATTORNEYS.

BURT R. VAN VALKENBURG, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

WEB-GUIDING DEVICE.

Application filed February 28, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BURT R. VAN VALKEN- BURG, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWVeoGuiding Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in web controlling devices andhas for its object the construction of a mechanism by which "a web isheld central in a given track.

Another object is to provide a device which may be used with a web,either wider or narrower than the normal. width of web.

Still another object is to provide a controlling device which will notoperate due to torn places in the edge of the web.

The invention consists in certain novel features and arrangements ofparts by which the above objects are attained and which are fully setforth in the following specification.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a View in plan showing the manner of applying my improvedcontrolling mechanism to a tracker for automatic player pianos.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View in plan of the double bellows bywhichmovement of the web holding members is effected.

Fig.3 is a view in section on 3-3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a View in section on 4 4,'Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view through "one of the members whichcontacts with the edges of the web.

Fig. 6 is a View in section showing one of the web holding bearings.

Fig. 7 is a view in section showing the means'for adjustingthe drivingshaft and shifting means.

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the means for adjusting the contactmembers.

Referring to corresponding parts in the several views by the samenumerals of reference, 1 denotes a web which passes over the bar 2, thisweb being wound from the spool 3 to the spool 1. A shaft 5 is drivenfrom a suitable motor, which it is not deemed necessary to hereillustrate, and mounted thereon is a gear 6 adapted to mesh with gear 7upon the shaft 8, thereby driving the spool 4. The gear 6is splined onshaft 5, and has formed on its side a grooved memberhaving clutch teeth9, adapted to engage corresponding teeth in a sprocket gearSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

Serial No. 80,860.

'10, which in turn is connected by a chain 10 to a similar gear 11 onshaft 12, this shaft driving the spool 3. An operating handle is denotedby 13, which engages the clutch member and shifts the same along shaft 5so as to engage either the gear 7 or the sprocket 10, thereby causingthe web to be wound either upon the spool 3 or 4.

Mounted on the side walls 1 1 are two valve members, denoted in generalby 13, comprising the body portion 16, in which is slidably mounted arod 17 provided with an enlarged head 18 adapted to contact with theedge of the web. This head is held extended by means of a light spring19 seated in a recess 20 in the inner end of the body 16 and abuttingagainst the underside head. The opposite end of the body member isprovided with a passageway 20 normally closed by means of the disk 21,attached to the outer end of rod 17 and provided with a washer 21 ofsoft flexible material This closure is held seated by means of spring19, as well as by the vacuum in passageway 20.

The end of member 16 is provided with a cap 22 of fine mesh materialfabric, which entirely surrounds the closure, thereby preventing theentrance of dust and fine particles into the passageway 20 when thevalve is lifted therefrom. One of these members is provided in each sideof the frame 14., the heads 18 thereof contacting with the edges of theweb and the openings 20 of each of these members being normally closed.

To permit adjustment of members 15 for different widths of web, Iprovide the body portion 16 with pins 83, which are engaged by a shipperyoke 82. The latter is attached to a rod 81 oscillatably mounted in abearing plate 80 secured to the side of frame 1%. To the bottom of oneof the rods 81 is secured an operating lever 84, and to the opposite rod81 is secured a short lever 86, which is cross-connected to theoperating lever 8% by a link 85. The connection of the levers is suchthat the members 15 are equally moved away or toward the center of theweb.

I will now describe the bellows by which the position of the spool 3 iscontrolled.

This bellows consists of the stationary portion 24 of substantiallydouble wedge shape having the wider portion symmetricallydisposedbetween the ends thereof. Attached to this member by means of a flexiblestrip 25, is a similar shaped block 26 and around the outer edges ofthese blocks is a membrane 27 forming in effect a double bellows. Block24 is rigidly secured to some fixed part of the machine frame leaving 26free to oscillate on the strip Mounted on the upper surface of member 21is a strip 28 and interposed between this member and 2a is a layer offabric such as leather, denoted by 30. The latter is provided with acutout portion 51, thereby forming a shallow cavity, 32, connected by apassageway 33 with a suitable source of producing vacuum. Formed in theupper surface of the block 241 are cells 31 and over which arediaphragms 36 separating the cell from the cavity 32. Adjacent thesecells are recesses 37 and 38 respectively, these recesses being providedwith a gauze covering 39, communicating with their adjacent cells bymeans of passageways 10.

In the plate 28 is provided passageways 41 and 42, extending from theouter surface of the plate to a point above the cells 31 and 35. Thesepassageways having branches 43 and 4A communicating with the recesses 37and 3S, and bleedholes 49 communicating with the cavity In alinementwith the axis of each of the cells 84 and 35 are vertical passageways 50extending upwardly to the surface of plate 28 and extending laterallytherefrom are passageways 51 and 52 communicating with other passageways53 and 5% to the interior of each of the bellows.

Mounted on the outer surface of plate 28 are flexible strips 55 ofmaterial such as.

leather, which strips are adapted to cover the opening of passageways50, and fast to the interior surface thereof are pins 56 extendingdownwardly through this passageway and resting on the pad 57 on theupper surface of the diaphragms 36.

The underside of the movable member 26 is provided with a block 60wherein is mounted a pin 61. Revolubly mounted in the frame member is ashaft 63, having a lever 62 on one end, which is slotted to engage thepin 61. To the other end of this shaft is attached a lever 61 connectedby a link 65 to a pin 66, which pin engages the shaft 12 extendingthrough an inclined slot 67 in the sleeve 68. The valve members 15 areconnected by tubes 70 and 71 with the passageways 1 :1 and 12respectively.

One end of the spool 3 is seated in a holding device on shaft 12, whilethe other end is seated in the holding device 7 3, which is providedwith a spring 71 to urge the holding member 73 outwardly and allow thespoolt-o be inserted and removed in the holding means.

The operation is as follows:

If for any cause the upper spool. or the web thereon should move, say,to the right, then the edge of the web on this side contacts with thehead 13 of the valve member 15 on that side, opening the passageway 20therein, admitting atmospheric pressure to the tube 71 leadiiiig to thedouble bellows 23. The air flows through the passageway to cavity 38,through the iassageway 46 to cell 35; the diaphragm 86 on the oppositeside of which a vacuum is used is thereby raised upwardly 'ausing thepin 56 to 'lift the flexible strip 55, which in turn admits atmosphericpressure through the m5- sageways 50 52 and Sal to the end of theiellows marked A. The air having been exhausted from the opposite end Bof the bellows, this end then collapses, which causes the end A. toexpand, raising'the pin 61 and correspondingly rotating the shaft 63.The rotation of this shaft, through the levers 64 and pins 66 and theconnecting link 65. rotates the block 68 in such a direction that theshaft 12 is moved to the left and is held in this position as long asthe edge of the web laps over its normal position. When the edge of theweb assumes its normal position the washer 21. under the action ofspring 19 closes the passageway 20 and allows the bellows and otherparts to assume their normal central position.

In case the web is tracking properly but the entire width is greaterthan norn'ial, then by the movement of lever 81 the distance between theopposite devices 15 may be increased to accommodate the increased widthof the web. The web may be ad- JllStPd centrally on the tracker bar byturning the screw 72 in the block 68, which shifts the shaft relative tothe block 68 and the tracker bar, but does not change the position ofthe block. any difference in the position of the shaft being taken up bythe spring in the opposite holding device.

lVhat I claim as new and wish to cover by Letters Patent is 1. A webguiding device comprising a roll. a web, a take up spool, valve membersadapted to yieldably bear against. the edges of said web, said memberhaving ports opened by the pressure of the web against the yieldableport-ion. pneumatic means comprising a bellows including a pair ofwedge-shaped members, having their widest portions symmetricallydisposed between the ends thereof, a hinge joining said mom herstogether at such widest portion and a membrane enveloping the outeredges of said wedge-shaped members, and actuating mechanisms connectedto one of said wedgeshaped members whereby when one of the same isoscillated, the mechanism is caused to shift the roll so as to bringsaid web into its central position.

2. A web guiding device comprising in combination a roll, a web, a takeup spool, valve members adapted to yieldably bear against the edges ofsaid web, said me!!!- bers having ports opened by the pressure of theweb against the yieldable portion, pneumatic means comprising a bellowsincluding a pair of wedge-shaped members, having their widest portionssymmetrically dis 7 posed to the ends thereof, a hinge joining saidmembers together at such widest por tion, and dividing said bellows intotwo chambers, a membrane enveloping the outer edges of said wedge-shapedmembers and passages connecting the Valve ports to one or the otherchamber formed in said bellows, whereby when said ports are opened, airis admitted to one of said chambers causing one of said wedge-shapedmembers to oscillate with respect to the other and means connected tosaid oscillating part whereby to shift the roll and bring the web intoits central position.

3. A web guiding device comprising in combination a roll, a web, a takeup spool, members adapted to yieldably bear against the ed 'es of saidweb, said members having ports opened by the pressure of the web againstthe yieldable portion, pneumatic means comprising a bellows including apair of wedge-shaped members having their widest portions symmetricallydisposed to the ends thereof, a hinge joining said members together atsuch widest portion and diriding the bellows into two separate chambers,one of said wedge-shaped members 1 eing formed with passagescommunicating with the outer atmosphere, such passages, however, beingnormally closed by means of valve members provided with a downwardlyextending stem, a diaphragm adapted to bear 15 inst the free end of saidvalve stem whereby to unseat the said valve member, the wedge member.beingprovided with a secondary passage connected to a suitable sourceof T cnuin which is adapted to act upon said diaphragm, a membraneenveloping the outer edges of said wedge shaped members and tubesconnecting the ports to the passa es communicating with said diaphraginswhereby when said ports are opened, air is admitted to said passageswhereby the vacuum acting upon the diaphragms is broken whereby onewedgeshaped member is caused to oscillate with respect to the other andmeans connected to said oscillating part whereby to shift the roll, andconsequently the web into its secon dary position.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

BURT R. VAN VALKENBURG.

topic; 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of 2mm.

Washington, D. C.

